The Contribution of Shell Petroleum Company Toward Healthcare Delivery in Onne Oil Bearing Communities

Ekom; Benjamin Emmanuel; Prof. Emma Wonah

doi:10.56201/jpaswr.v11.no2.2026.pg105.117

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The Contribution of Shell Petroleum Company Toward Healthcare Delivery in Onne Oil Bearing Communities

Ekom, Benjamin Emmanuel, Prof. Emma Wonah

Abstract

The study investigated the contribution of Shell Petroleum Development Company toward healthcare delivery in Onne oil bearing communities. While the Nigerian state depends extensively on petroleum revenues and oil Companies focus primarily on extraction and profitability, communities such as Onne in Eleme Local Government Area disproportionately bear the environmental and health consequences of oil operations. Agricultural lands have been degraded, surface and groundwater sources polluted, fisheries depleted, and traditional livelihood systems undermined. The objectives of the study were to; examine the healthcare challenges faced by residents of Onne oil-bearing communities; and analyze the impact of Shell Petroleum Company on healthcare delivery in oil bearing communities of Onne. The study adopted the Resource Curse Theory propounded by geographer Richard Auty in 1993. The sources of data for this study were primary and secondary. Primary data were sourced from interview while secondary data were sourced from books, journal articles and conference papers among others. The study concluded that the health of residents in Onne oil-bearing communities is heavily affected by environmental pollution and economic challenges linked to oil exploration. Despite the region’s oil wealth, local communities have limited access to quality healthcare. Pollution from oil spills, gas flaring, and contaminated water contributes to high rates of waterborne, respiratory, and other illnesses. The study recommended that Shell should urgently carry out and share a community health needs study for Onne, along with a health investment plan that involves local people. The plan should clearly list what health facilities, equipment, and staff are needed, and outline actions for the short, medium, and long term. It must be created with real input from community members, local health officials, traditional leaders, and independent health experts to make sure the investments meet the community’

Keywords

Multinational Oil CorporationShell Petroleum Companyhealth care deliverypollution and Onne JPASWR jpaswr

References

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The Contribution of Shell Petroleum Company Toward Healthcare Delivery in Onne Oil Bearing Communities

Abstract

Keywords

References

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